reed

I would think if you went as far as Hokkaido that crowds would thin abit (as compared to Honshu) due to the difficulty of getting there, though not necessarily so. Standing in lines may be inevitable, though finding space on the slopes should be possible. I have never been to Niigata's Arai mountain and I think it is not as well known as the other resorts in Honshu (Hakuba, etc) so perhaps it would be less crowded?